Traffic signal



Jan. 17, 1928.

I. D. WHITE TRAFFIC SIGNAL 2 Sheots-Sheei 1 Filed Sept. 25, 1925 Jan.17, 1928. 1,656,687

l. D. WHITE TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed Sept. 25. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 k 5 f1?.4? X ZZ 7/ l Z? l 53 53 35 547 z f7 f9 I D- White I (P mm GrammPatented Jan. '17, 1 928. V

UNITED STATES 1,656,687 i PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC 1). WHITE, OF CLINTON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOB-OF ONE-HALF TO CLYDE M.ZI'NK,

OI CLINTON, INDIANA. l

'IBL'FFIG SIGNAL.

Application filed September 25, 1925. Serial No. 58,591.

This invention relates to an improved trafiic signal for motor vehiclesand seelis, among other objects, to provide a devlce which willeliminate confusion and accidents [both as to the automobile driver andthe pedestrian and which will also, by reason of the certainty ofrecognition of the signals displayed, tend toward the acceleratlon ofthe movement of traffic.

The invention seeks, as a further object, to provide a device whereby adr1ver may easily and quickly signal an intentlon to turn to the right,to the left, or to stop, and wherein a distinctive color for each signaldifferent from the colors'of the other signals, will be employed sothatthe intention of the driver may, even though the si al charactersemployed are not discernible, be instantly determined by the particularcolor of the signal displayed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device employing aplurality of signal lamps in connection with each of the right and leftturn signals, wherein the lamps of each signal will each be housed in aseparate chamber, and wherein the lamps of each signal will be energizedinsuccession for thus progressively illuminating the signal charactersand attracting a't/tentiontothe signal displayed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a casing and lampmounting of simple and novel construction.

And the invention seeks, as a stillfurther object, to provide a novelswitch for controlling the lamps.

Other objects of the inventionnot specifically mentioned will a thefollowing descriptlon.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my improved signal applied to aconventional motor vehicle.

Figure'2 is a detail elevation of the signal.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view particularly showingthe interior construction of the signal.

Fi re 5 is a schematic view showing the switc es and the circuitconnectionsbetween the switches and the lamps employed. 56 Figure 6 is adetail sectional view through lamp chambers 17,..18-and"'19. below suchv16, are the ri ht turn signal characters-em} ppear in the course of Iare preferably colored one of the switches on the line 66 of Figure 5,looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

In carrying the invention into effect, I employ :1 preferably ellipticalcasing 10 which may be of'sheet metal or other a proved material,and'extending horizonta y within the casing is a centrally disposedpartition 1 1. As shown iii Figure 3, this.

partition is constructed of mating plate sections bent at their innermargins to define like opposed channels which are securedtogether-inmating relation to provide a centrally disposed conduit 12 extendingalong the major axis of the casing from end to end thereof. Extending inopposite directions from the partition '11 are pairs of alined'vertically disposed partitions 13 and, as will ,nowbe perceived, thepartition lldivides the easing into upperand lower compartmeme-while thepartitions 13 divide said compartments into a plurality of separate lampchambers 14,15 and 16 above the parti-"' tion 11, and a plurality oflike separate 8 partition. Closing the casing 10 at the open sidethereof and accordingly closing all of the lamp chambers are liketransparencies 20 which are preferably convex at their outer sides and,as shown in Figure 3, are removably secured to the casing by suitableresilient retaining rings 21. Suitably imposed upon said transparenciesto extend across the ends of the chambers 14, 15 and ploged. As s own inthe drawings, I-prefera ly employ the word Right upon each of saidtransparencies, followed by the indication of a hand. Imposed upon eachof the transparencies to extend across the ends of the chambers17, 18and 19, are the left turn signal-characters. As also shown in thedrawings, the word Left is preferably employed upon each of saidtransparencies, followed by theindication of a hand. The letters of theword Right as well as the indication of the hand pointing to the rightyellow while the letters of the word Left and the indication of the handointing toward the left are preferably co ored green. The transparencies20, however, are of clear or transg lucent glass.

Formed on topof the casing 10 is an' external lamp chamber 22 closed atits sides by transparencies 23 which, as shown in Figure 3, areremovably secured in position by resilient retaining rings 24. Each ofthese transparencies carries the word Stop and the letters of the wordsare colored red. The transparencies are clear or translucent.

Suitably fixed to one end of the casing 10 in alinement with the conduit12, is a tubular bracket 25 which, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of thedrawings, is provided with a base flange 26 apertured toreceive screwsor other suitable fastening devices n1ounting the signal. As brought outin Figure 1, the signal is preferably disposed at the forward portion ofthe vehicle to project laterally at the left side thereof and may besecured to the vehicle body adjacent the windshield. In thus locatingthe signal, said signal will be readily visible both at the front andrear of the vehicle while, also,

pedestrians may readily view the signal. Furthermore, in locating thesignal near the forward portion of the vehicle, less dust will collectupon the signal than were the signal to be mounted near the rear endportion of the vehicle. Dust accumulating on the signal transparencieswould, of course, tend to detract from the visibility of the signallights. Fixed to the wall ot'the casing at its upper side is a lampsocket 27 upstanding within the chamber 22, and removably fixed in saidsocket is a lamp 28. Fixed to the conduit 12, at opposite sides thereofto extend within the several lamp chambers at opposite sides of thepartition 11, are sockets 29 and removably fixed in said sockets arelamps such as the lamps 28. The lamps of the chambers 14, 15 and 16 areindicated at 30, 31 and 32, while the lamps of the chambers 17, 18 and19 are indicated at 33, 34 and 35 respectively.

As shown in Figure 4, the circuit wires which lead to the several lampsockets are arranged to extend throughthe bracket 25 and through theconduit 12 and in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, I have shown theswitches employed for controllin the lamps. As will be observed, Iprefera 1y provide three separate switches which are mounted upon aswitch plate 36. As su gested v in Figure 1, the switch plate may esecured to the instrument boarder other convenient part of the vehiclewhile, as brought out in Figure 5, the instrument board is slotted toaccommodate the switches therethrough. For convenience, the switches areindicated at 37 38, and 39 respectivel The switches are allsubstantially identical and each includes a barrel 40 closed at one endand suitably secured at its opposite end to the switch plate 36. Setinto the wall of the barrel at one side thereof is an insulating strip41, and mounted within the barrel at its opposite side is alongitudinally extending spring 42 bowed toward the axis of the barrel.Slidable through the switch plate 36 to be freely received within thebarrel is a contact plunger 43 provided at opposite sides thereof withlongitudinally extending slots 44, and bent inwardly from the wall ofthe barrel to extend freely through said slots are oppositely disposedlugs 45 slidably connecting the plunger with the barrel as well aslimiting the plunger against outward displacement. Disposed within theplunger to rest at one end upon the lugs 45 and hear at its other endagainst the outer end wall of the plunger is a spring 46 pressing theplunger outwardly. The insulating strip 41 of the switch 37 carries asingle terminal 47. The insulating strip of the switch 38 carries threelongitudinally spaced terminals 48, 49 and 56, and likewise, theinsulating strip of the switch 39 carries three longitudinally spacedterminals 51, 52 and 53. Thus, when the plunger of the switch 37 isdepressed, said plunger will be pressed against the terminal 47 by thespring 42 of said switch for closing a circuit through said terminal.Similarly, when the plunger of the switch 38 is depressed, said plungerwill snccesively engage the tenni nals 48, 49 and 50 while, when theplunger of the switch 39 is depressed, the plunger will successivelyengage the terminals 51, 52 and 53 for closing a circuit thercthrough.Upon the release of the plungers, the springs 46 will, of course,immediately retract said plungers.

In Figure 5 of the drawings, I have illustrated the circuit connectionsemployed. Leading from the battery or other suitable source ofelectrical energy upon the vehicle to the barrels 40 of the switches 37,38 and 39, is a wire 54, and leading from the terminal 47 of the switch37 to one side of the lamp 28 is a wire.55. Extending from the otherside of said lamp is a wire 56 which is connected to a wire 57 leadingback to the battery, the wire 57 forming a return not only for the lamp28 but also for the lamps 30, 31 and 32 as well as the lamps 33, 34 and35. Leading from the terminals 48, 49 and 50 of the switch 38 to thelamps 30, 31, and 32, are wires 58, 59 and 60, and leadin from theterminals 51, 52 and 53 of the switch 39 to the lamps 33, 34 and 35 arewires 61, 62 and 63 respectively.

As will now be seen, when the plunger 43 of theswitch 37 is depressed toenga e ,the terminal 47 current will flow from t e battery through thewire 54 and through said terminal and the wire to the lam 28, and thencethrough the wires 56 and 5 to return to the battery. The lamp willaccordingly be energized for displaying the stop signal. Similarly, whenthe plunger 43 of the switch 38 is depressed, said plunger will firstengage the terminal 48. Current will then flow from the battery Ill Ill

through the wire 54 and through said termithe lamp 30 to return to thebattery through the wire 57. The lamp 30 will accordingly be energized.*lVhen the switch plunger is further depressed, said plunger will whilemaintaining contact with the terminal 48 next engage the terminal 49 ofthe switch, whencurrent will flow through the wire 54 and through saidterminal and the wire 59 to the lamp 31 and thence through the lamp toreturn to the battery through the wire 57. The lamp 31 will accordinglybe energized. As the plunger is still further depressed, said plungerwill while maintaining contact with the terminals 48 and 49 finallyengage the terminal 50. Current will then flow through the wire 54 andthrough said terminal to the wire 60, thence through said wire to thelamp 32 to return tothe battery through the wire 57. The lamp 32 willaccordingly be energized. As the lamps 30. 31 and are thus successivelyenergized, the chambers 14, 15 and 16 will, of course, be successivelyilluminated for progressively illuminating the right turn signal. Theattention of traflic as well as the attention of pedestrians will thusbe attracted to the signal displayed and even though it should beimpossible to discern the letters of the signal 7 word, the signal maybe determined by the color of the light displayed. Upon the depressionof the plunger 43 of the switch 39, the lamps 33, 34 and 35 will, aswill be readily appreciated in view of the foregoing, be successivelyenergized for pro ressively illuminating the left turn signal. Thus, theattention of traflic as well as the attention of pedestrians will beattracted to the left turn signal when displayed and should it beimpossible to recognize the letters of the signal word, the signal maybe deter.

mined by the color of the signal light. I accordingly provide a particuarly effective device for the purpose set forth and, in this connection,it should be observed that colored signal lamps may be employed in lieuof colored signal characters.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is: I

1; A device of the character described comprising a casing open at oneside, a transparency closing the open side of said casing, apartition insaid casing forming separate compartments therein and consisting ofcompanion plates having portions overlapped and bent in oppositedirections to provide channel portions facing each other and registeringto form a conduit extending longitudinally of the partition and at oneend communicating with an opening formed in the casing, and lamp socketsin said compare ments carried by the channel portions of i saidpartition whereby conductors passed through the opening in the casinginto the conduit may be connected with the sockets.

2. A device of the character described comprising a casing open at oneside, a transparency closing the open side of said casing, a partitionin said casing forming separate compartments therein and consisting ofcompanion plates. having portions overlapped and bent in oppositedirections to provide channel portions facing each other and registeringto form a conduit extendin longitudinally of the partition and adapte toreceive conductor wires, and lamp sockets in said compartments carriedby the channel portions of said partition.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ISAAC D. WHITE. [13.8.]

